Pink Warrior: Salle Curtis - Surviving cancer and sister's death

A trio of faith, family and friends keep Salle Curtis strong as she faces a tragic duet: Stage 2 breast cancer and the death of her younger sister, Sandi Howe. Sandi died at age 53 on Aug. 27.

Lori Kilchermannlori.kilchermann@sentinel-standard.com

A trio of faith, family and friends keep Salle Curtis strong as she faces a tragic duet: Stage 2 breast cancer and the death of her younger sister, Sandi Howe. Sandi died at age 53 on Aug. 27.

"The day we found out she was terminal, I checked my breast and found a lump," said Salle. "I went right in and the doctors were amazed I found it. It's 4 centimeters around, and it's shaped just like a teardrop."

Salle is 55 and typically has routine mammograms, but had delayed the last one in an effort to save money to purchase dentures.

"I want to stress the importance of getting that mammogram and doing it when you're supposed to do it," Salle said. "The last one came out good and I postponed it ... If I would have hesitated any longer, I could have been right behind my sister."

Salle said she was not "sick" when she was first diagnosed.

"The day before Sandi died, I had my biopsy," she said.

Salle's had some lymph nodes removed, and is undergoing a battery of chemo treatments, which bring on waves of weakness and nausea. Her long hair fell out almost immediately.

"One day my hair felt tingly, the next day it fell out," she said. "It didn't take a week for it to fall out."

The Carson City High School alum has connected on Facebook with 1976 classmates who also have battled cancer, and they share experiences and draw strength from each other. She also turns to help from above.

"I have a strong faith in God," Salle said. "That's my basis, my core. And after losing my sister, I realize it could be worse - I could have died from this."

Salle's children and friends accompany her to surgeries and doctor visits, and help with household chores, such as cooking and cleaning.

"I see my regular doctor, my surgeon, my cancer doctor," she said.

She also relies on a good friend to help her juggle numerous doctor appointments, schedules, notes and details important for her progress and recovery. She has a large, three-ring binder packed with all the paperwork from her battle with cancer.

"I am that lucky that I have so many people and so many supporters," Salle said. "There are people who go through this alone. I wish our community had something in place for these people."I'm lucky to be me that I have access to all this," she added.

Having people to take care of keeps her going.

"I have a brother to take care of," Salle said, adding that when her sister died, her brother David came to live with her.

On the downside, somewhere in the recovery room after her operation her dentures were misplaced and have not been recovered. And Salle still has a port in her chest - a reminder of the chemo treatments yet to come.

Salle said many people have asked her questions about cancer, and she's happy to share her experience if it can help them or ease their own fears. She also has noticed a new trend in the way people are treating her.

"People kiss me all the time - they kiss my forehead, my lips," she said. "It's really cute, endearing that everybody does that."